The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) is expected to announce that it will keep five extra stops on the G Train in Brooklyn that it added in 2009 as part of a construction project. The stops took riders deeper into Brooklyn and for years became a part of the daily commute for some, but they were to be eliminated soon when the project comes to an end.

In addition to reports that the stops will be preserved, the MTA is also expected to announce that it will restore some of the bus service that was eliminated due to budget cuts in 2010. All very good news for mass transit users.

And while the additional stops on the G Train will be appreciated, there is still one glaring problem with the G Train that the MTA needs to address: restoring service on the G Line all the way to Forest Hills in Queens, where the train used to run.

As more and more people leave Manhattan for Brooklyn and Queens, the fact that there is not a reliable and quick subway options for residents traveling between the two boroughs is a huge oversight. If you don't have a car, getting from Sunnyside to, say, Downtown Brooklyn - or vice versa - requires a complicated mixture of buses and trains and likely will take you through Manhattan.

And studies suggest that more and more people, unlike in years past, are working in Queens and Brooklyn and not commuting everyday into Manhattan for their jobs. A reliable mass transit option between the two boroughs would only foster that economic activity.

We're not expecting miracles. We understand that the mass transit system in New York City is Manhattan-centric; that's just how it was designed.

But there is a subway line that exists that could take riders from Queens to Brooklyn quickly, it's just not being utilized. The MTA needs only to find the money to get it up and running again, an investment that we're sure would pay off in increased ridership.

Preserving the extra stops on the G Train is great news for a handful of riders who have become accustomed to the ease and convenience. But reopening the entirety of the G Line would be great news for tens of thousands of riders.

Sadly the "extension" deeper into Queens isn't really about money. It's about capacity.

Prior to 2001, running the G along Queens Blvd wasn't an issue, as, including it, there were two express (E,F) and two local services (G,R).

However, with the transferring of the F to the 63rd street tunnel in 2001, the decision was made to add a local service to continue having two services service 53rd street, in the heart of Midtown. Having the E, F, G, R, and V (now M) run at the same time is not possible from a capacity standpoint.

Due to outcry, the MTA kept the G on Queens Blvd during nights and weekends. Well, in theory, since this is also when most work occurs. Hence the G barely ran during those times (particularly weekends).

While the MTA could restore weekend service along Queens Blvd (many local station passengers have complained about the R not being enough on weekends), it is highly unlikely that it would run again during weekday daytime, as this would require the removal of the M. And, as we all know, more people (by far) travel into Manhattan during this time.